Spanish photographer captures world's first-ever leucistic Iberian lynx on camera

The Iberian lynx was reportedly saved from the brink of extinction after its population fell below 100 two decades ago

Spanish photographer Ángel Hidalgo has captured the world’s first-ever white Iberian lynx in the mountains of Jaen.

The lynx spotted in Spain is leucistic, a rare genetic condition that gives it a pale coat while preserving its normal eye colour unlike albinism.

A photographer in southern Spain captured what is believed to be the first-ever white Iberian lynx, a leucistic big cat so rare it seems almost mythical. Already one of the world’s rarest cats, the Iberian lynx was pulled back from the brink of extinction after its population… pic.twitter.com/rLQrMfbCNq

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According to reports, the Iberian lynx was saved from the brink of extinction after its population fell below 100 two decades ago. The existence of a leucistic Iberian lynx is therefore extremely rare.

The discovery is being attributed to conservation efforts to protect the Iberian lynx, however, conservationists have warned that while the white fur looks captivating on camera, it is a terrible camouflage in the scrublands of Andalusia.

The Iberian lynx population went into a decline during the 20th century after being hunted by poachers, and by 2002, only two isolated breeding populations remained in the world.

Following extensive efforts to bring back the species from the brink of extinction, the 2015 census showed 404 adult lynxes in the world, and the population reached around 2,000 by 2025.